BBC2 has unveiled plans for a landmark series called The History Of The Jews, to be written and presented by historian Simon Schama, and produced by Oxford Film and Television.

The five-part series, will explore 4,000 years of Jewish history from the Ancient Israelites and the origins of the Hebrew Bible to the impact that Jewish people have had in creating the world we live in today – through culture, money, science and entertainment.

The History Of The Jews is due to air in 2012; the executive producer is Nicholas Kent. Executive producer for the BBC is Cassian Harrison.

The series has been commissioned by Martin Davidson, commissioning editor for BBC History and Business. He says: “The history of the Jewish people is fundamental in the history of civilisation. I am delighted that Simon Schama, with his expertise, is returning to BBC2 to present such an important and wide-ranging authored series.”

Simon Schama said: “From the invention of the single faceless God to the invention of psycho-analysis, the Jewish story brims with illumination; ordeal and cultural revolutions; with poetry, politics and picturing. Coloured by passion and pathos, populated by troublemakers and visionaries, I’;ve always wanted to bring this story to a contemporary audience and since Jews have shaped the world as much as they have been shaped by it, their experience will, I hope, be part of everyone’;s story.”